Written by Kenny Londono, LMFT – March 20, 2025
It’s Friday night, and you have no plans. It’s been a busy week, consumed with meetings, emails, kids’ practices, work drama, and little sleep. You have a rare night with the kids out of the house, and your partner looks at you to say, “Well, what shall we do?” With so much going on, how can you possibly come up with a plan to spice up your romance? How can you overcome the default setting to crash on the couch with Netflix and leftover pizza?
The 5 Love Languages – The Importance of Quality Time
Gary Chapman, bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages, defines quality time as “giving someone your undivided attention.” Mr. Chapman notes that quality time doesn’t mean simply sitting on the couch watching television together; rather, he shares that quality time is giving each other undivided attention through eye contact while engaging in quality conversations in which you share experiences, thoughts, feelings, and desires in a friendly, uninterrupted context. Quality time can range from going for a walk together, enjoying creative experiences like enrolling in a cooking class together, or dining at a restaurant as you engage in meaningful conversations without texting or scrolling through social media.
There are countless topics a couple can explore while spending time on a date, from sharing best hopes for the future to connecting about a few points of gratitude. No matter the stage of the relationship you are in, engaging in conversations can sometimes be difficult due to situational stressors we face or feeling overstimulated by our surroundings.
Gottman’s CardDecks App
One thing that I have found beneficial to spur conversation is an app called CardDecks by relationship experts John and Julie Gottman. This app allows a couple to collaborate by asking open-ended questions on topics such as creating rituals with each other and learning about each other’s inner world—that is, each person’s dreams, hopes, fears, likes, and dislikes. CardDecks also has an option for couples to engage in meaningful conversations about strengthening their romance, from exploring ways to fill each other’s love jar to finding ideas for new dates to defining levels of intimacy based on what stage they are in the relationship.
Local Date Ideas at CityPlace
If you’re stalled out on ideas for new date adventures, here are some local date night ideas to spice up your romance.
CityPlace in West Palm Beach is a great place to dine, enjoy a delicious dessert, and attend special events. CityPlace has a wide selection of fun dining that ranges from plant-based, Italian, Latin, French, and Mexican to Japanese and more. Indoor seating creates an intimate moment as you’re surrounded by beautiful light fixtures, an amazing display of architecture and design, and plant displays that make you feel like you’re dining at a botanical garden.
True Food Kitchen
Perhaps dining outdoors is your style? One thing I found refreshing was dining outside at one of my favorite restaurants called True Food Kitchen, while enjoying live, open-air entertainment. On one outing with my wife, I enjoyed a grass-fed meatloaf. My wife had the seasonal roasted butternut squash pizza. For the pizza lovers out there, True Food Kitchen has one of the best sourdough pizzas made from wild yeast, which has been found to have health benefits. True Food Kitchen also has an impressive variety of non-alcoholic beverages made from scratch. I had the sparkling prickly pear tisane (prickly pear, hibiscus, lime), while my wife had the kale aid (organic kale, ginger, organic apple, celery, cucumber, lemon). The best part of this date was being able to share our wholesome food options and drinks.
We preferred outdoor seating to enjoy a local cover artist singing some of the greatest hits of One Republic and Coldplay. With people dancing and children playing in the water fountain, this was a positive memorable date night experience in our new home of West Palm Beach.
Sloan’s
As much as I loved True Food Kitchen’s dessert options, my wife and I decided to walk around the corner to Sloan’s. This vintage ice cream shop is loaded with many options from ice cream and candies to fresh baked goods. My eyes grew wide with my mouth salivating towards the homemade chocolate-covered candies, while my wife turned to the homemade mint ice cream.
The Wishing Tree
Just like our experience at True Food Kitchen, we shared our dessert treats with love as we walked around CityPlace and listened to more music, and lingered under the beautiful lighted Wishing Tree. The Wishing Tree is a 26-foot-tall banyan that turns nature and technology into art. LED lights illuminate the leaves at night, which change colors based on season, holiday, or theme of the night at CityPlace. We were stopped by many couples who requested a picture of this amazing piece of art.
RH Rooftop Restaurant
Another romantic option near CityPlace is the Restoration Hardware Rooftop Restaurant. You may not have imagined wandering through a luxury, upscale furniture store to reach a romantic rooftop dining experience, but that’s exactly what you’ll find here—a truly elevated experience. My favorite part of the date was getting to create shared dreams and hopes as we sketched out how we wanted our new home to be decorated. We came across many stunning furniture pieces and décor. A couple can always dream despite the price tag.
Kravis Center
If performing arts is your cup of tea, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is right across the street from CityPlace and offers regular concerts, musicals, comedy shows, and Broadway productions. You’ll be immersed in the sound and lighting experience. Complimentary parking is also available to guests, and light meals, cocktails, and other refreshments are available if you want to skip a big meal before the performance.
West Palm Beach is filled with many fun date activities. Whether you’re looking for a new dining experience, dessert, shopping, or entertainment, you can’t go wrong in this family-friendly area. After writing this blog, I have come to the realization that food should be added as the sixth love language!
Start Working with A Couples Therapist in West Palm Beach, FL
If you’re looking to deepen your connection and bring more intentionality into your relationship, we’re here to help. Whether you’re navigating stress, communication hurdles, or just want to reconnect on a deeper level, working with a caring couples therapist in West Palm Beach, FL, can provide the tools and support you need. You can start your therapy journey with The Marriage Couch by following these simple steps:
- Schedule a free 15-minute consultation
- Meet with a caring therapist
- Cultivate your relationship this spring!
Other Services Offered at The Marriage Couch
Couples therapy isn’t the only service The Marriage Couch offers. We are happy to offer a variety of services, including marriage counseling in Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, Loxahatchee, and online throughout the state of Florida. In addition, we also offer a 5-day Date Your Spouse Challenge to test the waters of our therapy style. Visit our Blog and Meet our Team for additional support today!
